Cesky Terrier
| Size at withers | 25-32 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 6-10 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12-15 years |
| Size class | Toy (< 10 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 90–140 bpm · Respiration 15–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Temperament | Calmer and more trainable than most terriers; reserved with strangers, devoted at home |
| Common health issues | Scottie cramp / Cesky terrier cramping syndrome; generally healthy |
| Exercise needs | Moderate - 45 min/day |
| Climate & housing suitability | Moderate and adaptable - the silky coat is clipped rather than stripped and needs regular grooming; provide shade in heat. |
| Owner notes | Created in the 1940s by Frantisek Horak; the national terrier of the Czech Republic. |
Origin and purpose
Terrier (AKC); FCI Group 3. Origin: Czech Republic; hunting terrier (Sealyham x Scottish Terrier).
Created in the 1940s by Frantisek Horak; the national terrier of the Czech Republic.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Calmer and more trainable than most terriers; reserved with strangers, devoted at home
This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.
Feeding
Small stomachs, fast metabolisms. Feed a diet formulated for small breeds, split across three or four meals a day as a puppy and two as an adult; toy puppies can become dangerously hypoglycaemic if a meal is missed. Portions are tiny, which means treats and table scraps overwhelm the daily allowance startlingly fast — a single biscuit can be a meaningful share of a 4 kg dog's intake. Dental disease is near-universal in small breeds, so ask your vet about diet texture and dental care from the start.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate - 45 min/day
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Moderate and adaptable - the silky coat is clipped rather than stripped and needs regular grooming; provide shade in heat.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 12-15 years. This dog is a senior from around 9–10 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Small dogs age slowly and often live into their mid-teens. Dental disease and heart-valve disease are the two things that most often shorten a small dog's life, and both are catchable early. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
